MAZ MEETS HIS BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

500 lucky people get the chance to meet their hero - and he's nice to them and everything! Watch our exclusive video report...

MARILYN MANSON made his first UK instore signing session this evening (January 23), giving 500 fans the opportunity to meet him on the eve of his first LONDON show in almost two years.

The signing, which took place at the London Oxford Street Virgin Megastore, was limited to 500 tickets only so as to avoid huge numbers of fans laying siege on their gothic hero.

Manson arrived about 45 minutes late for a brief five-minute photocall outside wearing a full-length black leather trenchcoat and a black sailor’s hat with the cap pulled over one eye. His make-up was the traditional white face, purple lipstick and a de riguer spooky blue contact lense in the other eye.

He was flanked on both sides by his complete live band. Despite the attention from the world’s media, Manson decided not to speak or raise a smile for the cameras.

One of the first fans to meet Mansontold NME.COM: “It’s just everything. I met Marilyn and he was everything. He hugged me and said I was beautiful – now I have to go get high!”.

Even though some fans travelled miles to attend the event without tickets, they were left disappointed. One fan told NME.COM: “I took the day off and travelled down from Milton Keynes thinking I might be able to get in with my ticket for tomorrow night’s gig but they foiled me and there’s no way I’m going to get in.”

Fortunately for Manson there was no repeat of the scenes at last night’s (January 22) show at the Manchester Evening News Arena where religious groups performed a vigil outside his concert. This time, the only other people waiting outside the shop apart from faithful fans was the massed throng of press.

However, fans in the queue were banned from using any flash photography and were limited to only one item to be signed by Manson.

The star’s gig in the capital takes place tomorrow (January 24) at the London Docklands Arena.